post your chicken coop pictures here!

[jmariebeef]

We positioned the power outlets so i can hang a box fan to move air in the summer later.

 

[junebuggena]

Just the windows at both ends and the big windows across the front. The coop was re-existing so we don't have a lot of options.

That might be a problem if you have close things up to keep rain out. It seems like you could easily put some holes at the roof line on the short side and the tall side to vent.

 

[junebuggena]

A hanging fan will cause a draft, you want circulation but not drafts. My concern is if all the windows have to be closed up to keep gusting wind or rain out, what will happen in terms of ammonia build up. That can make your birds very sick, very quickly. With windows that low, you'll be limited in how high you can put the roosts. Drafts are not good for chickens.

 

[jmariebeef]

That might be a problem if you have close things up to keep rain out. It seems like you could easily put some holes at the roof line on the short side and the tall side to vent.

We poured the concrete floor a couple of weeks ago, but before that we had a couple of rains while it was still just dirt. The coop itself is pretty shielded on the South side, and it stayed dry with the last rains so I guess we will see how things go. Thanks for the idea of putting in the holes, if it becomes an issue I will definitely consider that. Do you think that it would be an issue to have a board across the front of the joist ends?

 

[perchie.girl]

We positioned the power outlets so i can hang a box fan to move air in the summer later.

YOu have eves right? venilation there is a good spot.... And from what I saw they werent blocked off.... just cover with hardware cloth. the reason for ventilation is not necessarily for the heat... though its a good plan to use fans.....

The ventilation is for the wintertime when they spend alot more time in there. The ventilation is to allow moisture to evaporate and get out of the coop. It keeps ammonia from building up as well as condensation from being created on the inside of the roof.... If that slope of roof is an indication youi must get a fair amount of snow in winter...

OH and YOu did an excellent job on that coop.... very nice.

deb

 

[jmariebeef]

YOu have eves right? venilation there is a good spot.... And from what I saw they werent blocked off.... just cover with hardware cloth. the reason for ventilation is not necessarily for the heat... though its a good plan to use fans.....

The ventilation is for the wintertime when they spend alot more time in there. The ventilation is to allow moisture to evaporate and get out of the coop. It keeps ammonia from building up as well as condensation from being created on the inside of the roof.... If that slope of roof is an indication youi must get a fair amount of snow in winter...

OH and YOu did an excellent job on that coop.... very nice.

deb

Thanks deb...I am actually located in Nebraska so YES we get lots of snow in the winter. I have done a lot of reading on the subject and a lot of it said as long as you have a cold hardy breed and don't close it up too much too early they will actually adjust quite well to the cold. A lot of them said not to close up the coop at all, but obviously I will close it up some. You cant really tell, but there are 2x4 frames inside of both end windows that will eventually be fitted with plexi glass or something of that nature, and the front windows will probably get partially closed off but the plan is to leave a small part of the top open. The run will have some form of cover over the top the first couple of feet from the coop to help shield it.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
eggcellent....

deb

 

[MeepBeep]

We positioned the power outlets so i can hang a box fan to move air in the summer later.

Be aware from my experience cheap box fans will clog up with chicken dust pretty rapidly and cease to function in a short time, requiring a complete cleaning to get working again...

I use them on the low in my coop to circulate the heat in the winter and I have to clean them pretty much every other week, furnace filter gets changed/cleaned a least once a week.. Never underestimate the amount of dust chickens make... And if you are curious, yes I do heat my coop to about 40° and if I don't circulate the air a little bit the areas furthest from the furnace will freeze and cause condensation and humidity issues...

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: if you draw air from the outside for circulation there should be minimal dust.... just thinking outloud....

 

[MeepBeep]

if you draw air from the outside for circulation there should be minimal dust....  just thinking outloud....

True, it would likely lessen the dust build up, but I'm of the mindset that you vent by removing the bad air deliberately with the fan while letting good air replace it passively through a return vent, not the other way around... Not saying the other way doesn't work, it just doesn't fit my preferred method... In my case its doesn't make a difference as I only use the fans to circulate the air inside my coop during the winter, and since I heat the coop, I'm not all that worried about venting out humidity during the winter... In fact I keep deliberate venting to a minimum during the winter months to preserve heat, during the summer I keep the windows open...